National Standard Squab Book. 77 



Question. What is thr diftiTeuce beiweeii tlie Homor and Antwerp 

 breeds of pigeons? Answi-v. Xo difference. The name is nsed inter- 

 changeably to apply to the same breed of pigeon. In New England we 

 speak of them mostly as Homers. In New Jersey they are called more 

 often Antwerps. 



Qnestion. Can I j.eed some of my squabs by hand if necessary? Answer. 

 Yes. Mix up a mnshy, soft handful of grain, hold the squab in the left 

 hand, close to your liody, and with the thumb and first tiager of your 

 right hand force the niixlure into the bill. The squab will swallow and fill 

 its crop. A backward sciuab may be forced in this manner. 



Question. Can you sell me twelve pairs of young Homers, about eight 

 weeks oid? Answer. No. It is impossible to tell the sex of pigeons ex- 

 cept by looks and liabits when they are six to eight months old, so we 

 cannot send out mated pairs of birds under tliat age. Any breeder who 

 uudertakes to furnish S(iuabs several weeks old in mated pairs cannot do 

 so and is imposing on you. 



Question. I'lease give recioos for cookiag squabs. Answer. See the 

 cook books. Squabs are generally served broiled. They should be drawn, 

 singed and washed. Cut off the heads, split into two parts, season, put on 

 a lump of butter and broil over a hot fire. Place close to the fire at first 

 so as to brown the outside and retain the juices, then liold further away 

 from tlie fire to complete the cooking. If roasted, leave them in a hot 

 oven for thirty minutes. For roasting, squabs may be stuffed with cran- 

 berries or currants. Baste every ten minutes with spoonfuls of hot water 

 and butter. 



Question. How shall I train the young birds raised from your Homers 

 to Hy? Ans«er. There is a large business in flying Homers and if you 

 liave a iJen or two of trained birds you caa sell them at fancy prices. 

 There are homii>g clubs all over the country which have contests and it is 

 worth while for a breeder to work for a reputation of breeding and selling 

 fast flyers. The young Homers when five months old are strong enough 

 to be trained to fly. Take them in a basket (having omitted to feed them) 

 a mile or two away, and liberate them one by one. They will circle in 

 the air, then choose the correct course. You shonld have left grain for 

 them as a reward for thiir safe arrival home, and an inducement for their 

 next experience in flying. Two or three days later take or send them 

 away five miles and repeat. Next try ten miles, and so work on by easy 

 stages up to 75 or 100 miles. If you have a friend in another city, you 

 may send your birds in a basket to him with instructions to liberate cer- 

 tain ones at certain hours, or you may send the basket by train to any ex- 

 press agent, along with a letter telling him to liberate the birds at a cer- 

 tain hour and send the basket back to you. If you wish to have the birds 

 carry a message, write it on a piece of cigarette paper (or any strong 

 tissue), wap the paper around the leg of the bird and tie with threail, or 

 fasten with glue or a stariip: or, you may tie the tissue around one of the 



